Introducing WalkMe Environment and Apps

Strategizing with WalkMe

Creating Logic with Condition Builder

Using SmartTips

Using Smart Walk-Thrus

Managing Smart Walk-Thru Flow Steps

Configuring Resources

Exploring Shuttles

Managing Onboarding Tasks

Implementing Entry Points & Menu

Creating Launchers

Designing ShoutOuts

Implementing Segmentation

Previewing & Publishing Content

Troubleshooting Content Issues

Introducing ShoutOuts

Objective

After completing this lesson, you will be able to identify common use cases for ShoutOuts.

What is a ShoutOut?

ShoutOuts are popup messages that capture users' attention and communicate important messages.

ShoutOuts are attention grabbing messages designed to draw your user’s eye to the featured text.

Watch the video to understand what ShoutOuts are.

Key Takeaways
ShoutOuts are popup messages designed to draw a user’s attention. They are the perfect way to communicate with end users within the platform where messages are relevant to them. ShoutOuts can include an Action Button that let's initiate another WalkMe item when clicked.

ShoutOut Use Cases

ShoutOut Use Cases include:

Announce site changes
Inform users of upcoming site maintenance or downtime
Promote new features, promotional events, or premium services
Remind trial users of time remaining in a free trial account
Prompt employees to complete assigned online tasks

An example of a ShoutOut to increase feature adoption.

ShoutOut Components

There are 5 main components of each ShoutOut.

Component	Description
Theme	Select a Theme from the ShoutOut Template Gallery as a starting point for the ShoutOut design.
Position	Where will the ShoutOut appear on the screen? In the middle, in a corner, or somewhere else?
Text	What does the ShoutOut say? Adjust the text for what needs to be communicated.
Action	If you want users to take a specific action after viewing the message, include an Action Button. This will trigger another WalkMe item, such as a Smart Walk-Thru.
Engagement	Where and when will this ShoutOut appear for users?

Appearance Options

Now that you have an understanding of the five main components of a ShoutOut, let's look deeper at the Engagement settings to ensure the ShoutOut shows up as expected to meet business needs and solution strategy.

Auto Play Settings
In the Engagement tab, you select how the ShoutOut gets activated in the platform. There are 3 options here: Off (not commonly used): ShoutOut is initiated by a Launcher click. Auto play: ShoutOut gets activated whenever a user reaches your site, on any page. Play according to a rule (most common): Set up specific conditions under which your ShoutOut will activate. Such as the user getting to a specific page or an element being visible. Always consider the end user experience when setting these up! Add the message where it is most relevant for users. The figure shows Auto Play settings.

Auto Play Settings

In the Engagement tab, you select how the ShoutOut gets activated in the platform. There are 3 options here:

Off (not commonly used): ShoutOut is initiated by a Launcher click.
Auto play: ShoutOut gets activated whenever a user reaches your site, on any page.
Play according to a rule (most common): Set up specific conditions under which your ShoutOut will activate. Such as the user getting to a specific page or an element being visible.

Always consider the end user experience when setting these up! Add the message where it is most relevant for users.

The figure shows Auto Play settings.

Frequency
You can then adjust how often ShoutOut will Auto Play. Once a Day: Plays the first time the Auto Play conditions are true each day. Once: Plays only once. Always: Plays every time the Auto Play conditions are true. Custom: Designate the specific dates when this ShoutOut will play and the frequency ranging from: Daily Weekly Monthly Always is the least recommended option, as the message will constantly be popping up for a user and could result in frustration. The figure shows Frequency settings.

Frequency

You can then adjust how often ShoutOut will Auto Play.

Once a Day: Plays the first time the Auto Play conditions are true each day.
Once: Plays only once.
Always: Plays every time the Auto Play conditions are true.
Custom: Designate the specific dates when this ShoutOut will play and the frequency ranging from:
- Daily
- Weekly
- Monthly

Always is the least recommended option, as the message will constantly be popping up for a user and could result in frustration.

The figure shows Frequency settings.

Cancel Auto Play
In many cases, you might want ShoutOut to keep playing until the end user takes an action. Then, you want to stop showing them the ShoutOut. That's what this section is about. You can cancel the Auto Play once the user clicks the: Action Button Close Button X Button Example: The ShoutOut is set up to play once per day until the user clicks the Action Button. The figure shows Cancel Auto Play settings.

Cancel Auto Play

In many cases, you might want ShoutOut to keep playing until the end user takes an action. Then, you want to stop showing them the ShoutOut. That's what this section is about.

You can cancel the Auto Play once the user clicks the:

Action Button
Close Button
X Button

Example: The ShoutOut is set up to play once per day until the user clicks the Action Button.

The figure shows Cancel Auto Play settings.

Auto-play appearance conditions panel with cancel auto-play options highlighted, showing Action, Close, and X button checkboxes.

Limit the Number of ShoutOuts

ShoutOuts can be incredibly effective, easy ways to get messages out to end users. However, you should be strategic and limit the number of ShoutOuts you have and how often they replay for users.

Numerous ShoutOuts popping up for end users or constantly replaying could lead to a frustrating user experience!

Use the Engagement settings to ensure these messages show up for the right users in a relevant place on the platform. You can match the autoplay settings to meet business needs and content strategy.

Steps for Creating a ShoutOut

Let's put these five components into practice and see how to use them as you create a ShoutOut.

Step 1: Create ShoutOut
Click the + icon in the Editor, and select ShoutOut. Give it a name, and click Continue. Note The ShoutOut (Classic) option is the older version of ShoutOuts. Use "ShoutOut."

Step 2: Select Theme
Select a Theme in the Template Gallery. You'll customize this later. Then, click Apply Template in the bottom right. Watch the video to learn how to apply templates.

Step 2: Select Theme

Select a Theme in the Template Gallery. You'll customize this later.

Then, click Apply Template in the bottom right.

Watch the video to learn how to apply templates.

Step 3: Define Position
Next, think about the placement of ShoutOut on screen. Utilize the options in the Layout section on the right-hand side of the Editor. Hint It is recommend ShoutOuts are placed in a corner to minimize end users automatically closing it. Watch the video to learn how to define position.

Step 3: Define Position

Next, think about the placement of ShoutOut on screen. Utilize the options in the Layout section on the right-hand side of the Editor.

Hint

It is recommend ShoutOuts are placed in a corner to minimize end users automatically closing it.

Watch the video to learn how to define position.

Step 4: Customize Text & Details
Fine tune the design by customizing the text, colors, and more . Click on an element to edit it. For example, double click on a text box to adjust it. Use the formatting tools on the right-hand side as needed to edit the style. Watch the video to learn how to customize text and details.

Step 4: Customize Text & Details

Fine tune the design by customizing the text, colors, and more .

Click on an element to edit it. For example, double click on a text box to adjust it. Use the formatting tools on the right-hand side as needed to edit the style.

Watch the video to learn how to customize text and details.

Step 5: Edit the Action
The buttons you see on the ShoutOut are Action Buttons. These buttons will initiate other WalkMe applications like Smart Walk-Thrus, Resources, and more. Generally, button functions are defaulted to "None," so be sure to change this prior to moving forward. Click the relevant button on your ShoutOut, and use the dropdowns on the right-hand side to select the button's action. Watch the video to learn how to edit the action.

Step 5: Edit the Action

The buttons you see on the ShoutOut are Action Buttons. These buttons will initiate other WalkMe applications like Smart Walk-Thrus, Resources, and more.

Generally, button functions are defaulted to "None," so be sure to change this prior to moving forward.

Click the relevant button on your ShoutOut, and use the dropdowns on the right-hand side to select the button's action.

Watch the video to learn how to edit the action.

Step 6: Set Up Engagement
Once the design is complete, you can't save until you tell WalkMe when and where this ShoutOut will show up for users. Click Next in the bottom right to open the Engagement section. By default, it will Auto play. If you need the ShoutOut to play on a specific webpage (recommended), you can select "Create Rules" to use the Condition Builder and set this up. Watch the video to set up engagement.

Step 6: Set Up Engagement

Once the design is complete, you can't save until you tell WalkMe when and where this ShoutOut will show up for users.

Click Next in the bottom right to open the Engagement section.

By default, it will Auto play. If you need the ShoutOut to play on a specific webpage (recommended), you can select "Create Rules" to use the Condition Builder and set this up.

Watch the video to set up engagement.

Exercise: Create a ShoutOut

Below is a software simulation that will guide you through how to build a ShoutOut for this scenario. The simulation will replicate what you will experience when you build in your own Editor.

ExerciseStart Exercise

Summary

ShoutOuts
ShoutOuts are popup messages used to communicate with end users. The Action Button lets initiate another WalkMe action when clicked. You can customize the look, text, colors, and more using out of the box tools.

Related Resources

ShoutOuts: Getting Started Guide Bookmark this resource on getting started with ShoutOuts.	View Article
Visual Designer Dynamic Layout Dive further into all the details of dynamic ShoutOut design editing tools.	View Article

ShoutOuts helps connect messages to users right within the platform where they're relevant.

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